West Brabant can brace itself again for delays on the highway. This time on the A27, due to maintenance on the Merwedebrug. The bridge, which connects Brabant with South Holland, will be closed for maintenance for ten weekends from this week. This summer it was hard for road users on the A29 due to the closed Haringvliet bridge.
An inspection has shown that various suspension cables on the Merwede Bridge are beginning to rust because the paint layer has worn off. The driving deck is attached to the arched bridge with these cables. This rust formation is caused by leaks in several places in the main supporting structure.
Rijkswaterstaat is starting maintenance work to keep the bridge safe. Technical installations are tested, suspension cables are maintained and leaks are tackled. The hanging cables do not get new paint, but a special protective layer. This is easier to apply, so that the work is completed faster and disruption to traffic can be limited.
Bridge completely closed
For the test of technical installations, the bridge must be completely closed in both directions. This will take place from nine o’clock in the evening on Thursday to five o’clock on Friday morning. Only emergency services, cyclists and pedestrians can then use the Merwede Bridge. Cyclists and pedestrians are allowed to cross the bridge in groups, so you should take into account a maximum of half an hour extra travel time.
The hanging cables and leaks will be tackled in the weekends from September 1 to November 13. This happens every time from Friday evening nine o’clock to Monday morning five o’clock. These activities will be carried out from the cycle path. As a result, one of the two lanes can always remain open in the direction in which work is being carried out. There is a maximum speed of fifty kilometers per hour for traffic.
Most traffic is diverted during the day to avoid long traffic jams. Travelers should take into account about half an hour extra travel time.
Merwede bridge replaced
The Merwede Bridge will eventually be completely replaced. This is part of the widening of the A27 between the Hooipolder junction and Houten.
Haringvliet bridge closed for weeks
Traffic in West Brabant is probably used to detours and traffic jams by now. The Haringvliet Bridge, which connects the west of Brabant with Rotterdam, was closed throughout June and July. In recent weeks, the extra travel time has sometimes reached up to an hour. The bridge has been open again since the beginning of August.
The Haringvliet Bridge was closed from the beginning of June to the beginning of August for an enormous operation.